Laurel Jeanne Peart

Laurel Jeanne Bates Peart, 85, passed away on April 26, 2026. She was born on April 10, 1941, in Oildale, California, to Beulah “Billie” May Mitchell and Russell Elliot Bates. She was the youngest of two sisters and the devoted mother of thirteen children.

Laurel Jeanne spent her early years moving with her family before they settled in Boulder City, Nevada, where she graduated from high school. She later attended Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, where she met her sweetheart, Edward Lynn Peart. They were married on June 23, 1962, in the St. George Utah Temple. She received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from BYU and went on to complete the classes required for a master’s degree in food science and nutrition before their growing family moved to Moline, Illinois, and later to Arden, North Carolina.

As a mother, Laurel Jeanne grew a garden, sewed stuffed animals, made candy, and took her children on individual dates to eat hamburgers. She ensured that everyone was clothed and fed, and there was always enough to share with friends who needed a meal or a place to feel loved.

As her children grew, she supported their after-school activities and events. One of the most memorable was Odyssey of the Mind. With Ed serving as a coach and various children participating as competitors, Laurel Jeanne embraced the program and served as a judge for many years. She proudly wore her “judge” hat– a sequined hat that just barely covered the hair she was widely known for.

In addition to caring for her family, Laurel Jeanne worked as an appraiser, bringing diligence and professionalism to her work. She also served her community at the Juvenile Evaluation Center and gave devoted service in her church. In addition to other church callings, she taught teachers how to effectively manage classrooms, often using memorable object lessons. Her older children fondly recall helping her demonstrate the importance of preparing the classroom in advance by participating as she put her classroom into disarray. They delighted in being allowed to push chairs out of place, write on the chalkboard, and leave crumpled pieces of paper strewn on the floor to create a scene that would surprise the teachers in training as they entered the room. Her favorite calling was serving as a pianist for the children in Primary. She faithfully played for decades and was so dedicated that she had to be persuaded to step away from the piano bench when she was nearly eighty years old.

From 2005 to 2007, Laurel Jeanne and Ed served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Bishop’s Storehouse in Las Vegas, Nevada. They chose Las Vegas so she could be close to her aging mother. After their mission, they moved to their Christmas tree farm in Madison County, North Carolina, where Laurel Jeanne continued working on her goal to make quilts for each of her grandchildren. She delighted in planning the colors and patterns of the quilt tops to make something memorable for each of them.

Laurel Jeanne loved people and was happy to spend hours on the telephone, chatting with family and friends. She will be greatly missed.

Laurel Jeanne is survived by her sister, Cornelia May Bates Madsen, and her children: Melissa (Dallen) Craven, Ben (Julie) Peart, David (Lisa) Peart, Aaron (Debbie) Peart, Michelle (Michael) Kotter, Jacob (Tammy) Peart, Danielle (Andy) Lovejoy, Jonathan (Rachel) Peart, Joseph (Mindy) Peart, Judy (Bill) Flaschar, Vicki (Ahmed) Elgerzah, Gene (Latonya) Smith, and Steve (Michelle) Goode, as well as 56 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Lynn Peart; her mama (Billie) and daddy (Russ), and three of her 59 grandchildren.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 3401 Sweeten Creek Rd, Arden, NC, with a visitation from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with the memorial service to follow at 11:00a.m. Interment will be at Shepherd Memorial Park, 5045 Asheville Hwy, Hendersonville, NC, after the service.

Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.